KOTTAYAM: The longest-serving bishop of the country
Philipose Mar Chrysostom
of
Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
would have ended up as a registered porter at
Jolarpettai
Railway Station in
Tamil Nadu if he had his way. The then 26-year-old Mar Chrysostom was on his way to assume charge as a clergyman after completing his
theological studies
in Bengaluru. As he was waiting for the train to Kerala, he struck up a conversation with the
porters
at the station seeing the utter misery of their lives. They challenged him to stay with them to see their world of harsh toil and the well-built, over six-foot tall Mar Chrysostom, readily accepted the challenge. He worked as a porter at the station for one month.
As Mar Chrysostom says in his auto biography: “After the one-month stay with them, I wanted to become a registered porter. But I had to get the metropolitan’s permission.” Though the metropolitan welcomed the idea, he insisted that he needed a clergyman for the parishes and Chrysostom had to half-heartedly drop the idea of becoming a porter.
Philipose Mar Chrysostom, popularly known as Valiya metropolitan, who passed away at the age of 103 on Wednesday, was an outstanding personality widely respected and loved for his humanist ideals and inborn sense of humour. He served as a bishop for 68 years which is a record in the Indian church.
The bishop was admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvalla after his health deteriorated on April 23. He was discharged on Tuesday after he regained health but his condition worsened again on the wee hours of Wednesday. The funeral will be held at the special cemetery for bishops at the church headquarters in Thiruvalla at 3pm on Thursday.
Mar Chrysostom was born in Adangappurath Kalamannil, a family of priestly tradition, as the son of K E Oommen Kassessa, vicar general of the Mar Thoma Church and Sosamma on April 27, 1918. After school education in Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor, he obtained BA degree from Union Christian College, Aluva.
His commitment to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ made young Philip Oommen involve in missionary work in Ankola, Karnataka. After working there from 1940-1942, he started Theological studies in United Theological College, Bengaluru. He was ordained as deacon on January 1, 1944. Along with theological studies, he fulfilled the duty of leading the Bengaluru parish. After participating in the activities of Ankola Ashram for some time, he served as vicar of Kottarakkara, Mylom, Pattamala, Manganam and Thiruvananthapuram parishes. In 1953, he got ordained as episcopa (bishop) with the name Philipose Mar Chrysostom Episcopa. Later, history proved that he richly deserved the name of St Chrysostom of the golden tongue. He joined St Augustine’s College, Canterbury, England to pursue further theological studies. On his return in 1954, he was given responsibility of Kottayam-Kunnamkulam diocese and Mar Thoma Vaideeka Seminary.
Thirumeni, as he was fondly called, had a special concern for socially and economically backward parishes. He formulated and implemented projects to improve the social, economic and cultural condition of several backward parishes.
A pleasant attitude was his biggest asset. His eagerness to share the joy of life and his love for fun conversation and humour endeared him to people across religious and political spectrums. Universally known for his humour, many books have been published containing his funny anecdotes and talks.
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